Read the Conversation
Meeting highlights:
- Leadership Spotlight: Introducing Mostafa Tharwat, representing the new generation of general managers in Saudi Arabia.
- Market Entry: Setting up Bausch + Lomb’s direct presence in Saudi Arabia, and building the organization from scratch.
- Business Expansion: The growing role of Bausch + Lomb is expanding across pharma, consumer, surgical, and vision care segments in the region.
- Strategic Alignment: Committing to Saudi Vision 2030, including establishing a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia.
- Therapeutic Focus: Enhancing the company’s footprint in Saudi Arabia, aiming for leadership in dry eye disease management.
- Innovation Pipeline: Introducing more innovative solutions and new treatments tailored to the Saudi market after collaborating with local authorities.
- Talent Development: Developing and empowering local talent is a core priority.
- Growth Roadmap: Laying the foundation for Bausch + Lomb’s growth in Saudi Arabia, with a strong plan for 2025.
- Awareness & Advocacy: The importance of increasing awareness and collaborating with local stakeholders.
- Cross-Sector Collaboration: Establishing partnerships with different sectors to strengthen market presence.
EF: Could you elaborate on what attracted you to Bausch + Lomb, and the footprint in the market?
MT: Bausch + Lomb is a global eye health company with over 170 years of history, known for its strong legacy and specialization in the field of eye care.
I had the opportunity to work in the eye care space for five years prior to joining Bausch + Lomb, during which I closely observed the company’s impressive growth and strategic expansion. The company has demonstrated a clear ambition to become a global leader in eye health, including Saudi Arabia.
I took on the role of General Manager for Saudi Arabia, leading the transformation and the change of the business model in Saudi Arabia, focused on growth and stronger market presence.
This role offered me a unique opportunity to be part of building something from the ground up. As the first General Manager and among the first employees in the new structure, I am deeply motivated by the chance to shape Bausch + Lomb’s operations and team in Saudi Arabia, playing a key role in supporting the company’s expansion.
Bausch + Lomb operates across three main divisions: pharma consumer, surgical devices, and vision care. In Saudi Arabia, I am currently overseeing the pharma consumer division, which is a critical part of our growth strategy in the region.
We have registered our Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia, and we’re planning to have our formal office opening in 2025.
EF: Could you share some of the key lessons you have learned so far on this journey?
MT: There are three areas that have been fundamental to our journey so far: Go-to-market strategy, a high performing team with ownership, and strategic partnerships. Assessing our current footprint and determining how to make it more sustainable in the long term was critical.
Our team began by analyzing the market and reviewing our existing portfolio. With Bausch + Lomb’s broad range of products across several therapeutic areas within eye care, we focused on identifying unmet medical needs in the local market and aligning our portfolio accordingly. This approach allowed us to prioritize products that would deliver the greatest benefit to patients in Saudi Arabia, ensuring we could fulfill our mission to help people see better and live better.
After setting these priorities, we worked closely with the Saudi FDA to register our products. We established a clear registration plan and are now advancing with an ambitious launch strategy. This year, we plan to bring at least three new products to the market.
A key factor in our progress has been attracting local talent who are passionate about our journey. We seek individuals who share our vision and possess an ownership mindset. I believe that while good brands are built by people, great brands are driven by people with purpose. By fostering this mindset, we have accelerated our achievements.
We are also strengthening our partnerships within the Saudi healthcare ecosystem, expanding our external footprint, and collaborating more closely with healthcare institutions and professionals. Building these relationships is essential to linking Bausch + Lomb’s name with the value of our portfolio in the local market.
EF: Could you share more about your portfolio, and what are you most excited about?
MT: We offer a comprehensive range of therapies, including treatments for dry eye disease, eye redness, glaucoma, and corneal healing. Our company is particularly recognized as a leader in dry eye disease management, thanks to our broad portfolio of specialized products that have established a strong presence in the Saudi market.
We are preparing to launch several innovative solutions that have yet to be introduced, and we are eager to bring these advancements to the Saudi population as soon as possible. Our goal is to address unmet needs and elevate the standard of eye care in the region.
In addition to our existing portfolio, we are expanding into other therapeutic areas with a robust pipeline and targeted products, such as those for glaucoma. For instance, we recently introduced a novel solution for eye redness, which has received excellent feedback from both healthcare professionals and patients and is demonstrating strong performance in the market.
EF: Could you elaborate on how your organization’s strategic partnerships contribute to advancing patient care across the Kingdom?
MT: Strategic collaborations with healthcare institutions are central to our approach. We have established collaborations with the Saudi Ophthalmological Society, the Ministry of Health, and leading health care entities in both public and private sectors across Saudi Arabia. These collaborations enable us not only to deliver innovative products and solutions, but also to raise the standard of care for patients and advance professional knowledge and practices within the ophthalmology community.
We are also working closely with these institutions to increase awareness of eye diseases, address their burden, and implement effective screening and treatment protocols. By engaging with both public and private entities, we ensure that our solutions are accessible to the right patients, especially those who are most in need.
EF: Could you elaborate on how Bausch + Lomb is supporting this process and contributing to Saudi talent?
MT: One important focus for us at Bausch + Lomb is enhancing our external footprint and supporting the healthcare ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. A key initiative we are working on is building capabilities within the eye healthcare sector, which is constantly evolving and growing. It is vital to develop these capabilities to ensure the ecosystem remains strong and sustainable.
As part of our efforts, we collaborate with specialized institutions and hospitals to provide educational programs and support existing ones, helping to build the capabilities of healthcare providers. This is a critical aspect of our work.
On the internal side of the company, we are deeply committed to developing local talent. We prioritize hiring potential leaders from within Saudi Arabia and nurturing them to become future leaders. This is part of our broader goal to build a high-performance organization where talent can thrive. If we succeed in developing this talent in the right way, it will contribute to creating a sustainable company within a sustainable ecosystem.
EF: What achievement are you most looking forward to celebrating in the coming year?
MT: We are laying down the foundation for the growth of Bausch + Lomb in Saudi Arabia. We have already made significant progress in 2024, and 2025 will be the year of tangible growth—the year when we start seeing the results of what we have built. Our goal is to be a trusted healthcare partner in the Kingdom by delivering value through innovation, education, and access, and contributing to advancing healthcare in Saudi Arabia in ways that support national healthcare transformation priorities.
I look forward to celebrating a successful year for Bausch + Lomb in Saudi Arabia in early 2026. Success, for me, means having a high-performing team with a strong sense of ownership and a collaborative culture. It is about having a clear plan to introduce more innovative solutions to the market and celebrating the launches we have discussed. All of this will drive our growth, and we are aiming for significant expansion in 2025.
The opening of the regional headquarters is a significant achievement for us and a clear sign of Bausch + Lomb’s investment in Saudi Arabia. It reflects our commitment to growing and making an even stronger impact in the region in the years ahead.
